Usually when your neighbors go on vacation, you water their plants, and take in their mail, and in return you receive a shiny new mass produced souvenir from the airport that they’ve grabbed in a frenzy before departing. A magnet of an alligator that says “Stay Cool!”, a snow globe with a palm tree, or if you’re lucky, a not-too-obnoxious coffee mug. Not if you’re me! The Lush Lady and Lush Husband just received a beautiful goody bag containing all the makings of a Caipirinha, the national drink of Brazil, including Cachaça(Brazilian rum), organic sugar and limes. Thank you Melody and Greg for being such amazing neighbors!

Caipirinha
+ 1/2 lime, quartered 
+ 2 tsp sugar
+ 2 ozCachaça 
Directions:  Muddle limes and sugar in an old-fashioned glass. Fill with crushed ice and add Cachaça.

From Winnie the Pooh, to The Cure, to cocktails - a good mom is supportive, no matter what you’re into. Thanks for the birthday bottles, Mom!

There’s a Twin Peaks themed bar in Atlanta!

The Bookhouse Pub, named after the evil fighting secret society on the series, the Bookhouse Boys, is a spot-on recreation of David Lynch’s moody Twin Peaks. With its 1970’s dark tavern atmosphere intermingled with Dr. Jacoby’s tiki island flair, it feels as you’re walking onto the set as you enter the door, leaving the Poncey Highlands of Atlanta behind. If I wouldn’t have been in the midst of rewatching the show on Netflix, I might not have put it together… at least not until I saw the menu with cocktails like the Laura Palmer, Audrey Horne, and Log Lady. I worked my way through most of the cocktail list, discovering the highlights were the Wow Bob Wow, a spicy jalapeno margarita, and the Log Lady, an herbal infused vodka you can have with cran or grapefruit (go with grapefruit). The beer snobs (and I say that with love!) accompanying me were satisfied as well. The only thing that was missing from the experience was the theme song playing on loop.

Happy birthday to me! What better way to celebrate than with tiny alcoholic jello cupcakes? I found this recipe (and many more I’d like to try) for Birthday Cake Jello Shots on the blog Erica’s Sweet Tooth. Cake vodka, cream soda, cran and heavy cream gelled together into an adorable cupcake shape and topped with whipped cream and sprinkles - they’re any girls dream! (Note: The boys in my life were pretty fond of them too).

A little Lush Lady fun…

Octane Coffee in Grant Park serves up better cocktails than most bars.

Peruvian Pine cocktail : Grapefruit bitters, Pisco, Zirbenz Pine, Cocchi Americano

It’s-a-spicy-Friday! 

Here’s a little back story on this drink. A Caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail made with a liquor from fermented sugarcane juice called cachaça, lime and sugar. In the States we use vodka and call it a Caipiroska. I’m lucky I can escape to Brazil just down the street at Ziba’s Wine Bar.

Pepper Pear Caipiroska : vodka, habanero pepper, soda, limes

There’s a beluga in my beer!
I hope everyone had a fun, safe and boozy Fourth. I know I did. I went to Red, White and Brew at the Georgia Aquarium, thanks to thebeerbelly and Beer Connoisseur magazine. I sampled beers, cider and craft beer ice cream, all amongst the company of whale sharks, manta rays and, my favorite, the beluga whales. It all ended up with the perfect view of the downtown Atlanta fireworks from the Aquarium’s rooftop. I can’t wait to do it again next year!

Me and the hubs went to one of my favorite restaurant/bars, the Iberian Pig (Atlanta). Noticing the cocktail menu didn’t offer ups any tequila libations, we asked the bartender if he had any off-menu ideas. He whipped out a little black notebook and mixed up this beauty borrowed from the Tabard Inn in Washington, DC. The moral of the story? Sit at the bar!

Tabard cocktail : Milagro Reposado Tequila, Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Drambuie, Orange Boat, Fresh Thyme